In a bid to check hawala transactions in the upcoming Assembly elections, the Chief Electoral officer (CEO) Vijay Dev on Monday announced a cap of Rs 10 lakh on cash coming via airways and other means. Carrying more than one kilogram of gold can lead to investigations by the Election Commission (EC).
“To ensure that the funds used by the parties for election purposes are in compliance with the model code of conduct (MCC) and guidelines of the Election Commission of India (ECI), anyone carrying cash beyond Rs 10 lakh and gold above a kilo will have to go through special interrogation so as to avoid any illegal transaction,” said Dev after meeting the officials of Airports Authority of India (AAI) and other security officers.
To tighten the noose on suspicious transactions through legal routes, the Electoral Officer also said that security officers, including Delhi Police, CISF and other airport management staff, have been asked to immediately intimate the electoral office if any seizures are made and also keep an eye on the cash inflow and gold jewellery above the stipulated ceiling. “This way we want to ensure that at least there is no violation of electoral guidelines by the aviation sector,” said Dev.
The CEO along with Chief Nodal Officer Ankur Garg met officials of AAI, AirportTraffic Controller (ATC) representatives, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and Income Tax officials to ensure strict vigilance on the flow of cash and jewellery above the limit fixed.
The CEO has already directed the Income Tax department officials to keep strict vigil on airports and other public places where transaction of money and gold can take place.